Sarfira Director On Creative Differences With Akshay Kumar: "He Didn't Shout, He Looked Through Me"

Sudha Kongara said, "When he's upset, he gives you the best"

Director Sudha Kongara, who worked with Akshay Kumar in his latest film Sarfira, spoke about the initial creative differences she had with the superstar on the set in an interview with India Today. Sudha Kongara, who helmed the original Tamil film Soorarai Pottru with Suriya, also revealed that the producer had to play the mediator between Akshay Kumar and herself when both of them were unwilling to "give in". When asked to share about her first encounter with Akshay Kumar on the set, Sudha Kongara recalled, "Both of us were quite individualistic in our approach to the script. He understood me and I understood him. Certain things that I'm very particular about, I don't give in. And when I don't give in, Vikram steps in. And then he'll say, 'No paaji, no paaji, you have to...' It worked so brilliantly."

However, the director didn't shy away from revealing that Akshay Kumar's process was different from hers. "I was stuck to the original... But this character isn't quiet, he's happy, he jumps around. He's happy. Akshay brought that to the character. In the beginning, I didn't understand him for about six days. We had our frictions. But he's not the kind to get angry or shout. He'll look through you. I didn't care, because I was getting what I wanted anyways. When he's upset, when he's a little low, he gives you the best."

Sudha also praised Akshay Kumar's professionalism on the set. "He doesn't even take a break, he doesn't go off-set. I've never even seen him go to his vanity...", said the director.